We have our work cut out for us in the coming years. The threats to critical affordable and supportive housing programs that serve the poorest households and those with disabilities are real and significant. Become involved in planning the 2018 Congressional Reception!

NJCounts 2019

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Wednesday January 23, 2019.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

The goal of the second Annual Homeless Sabbath is to engage as many congregations of all faiths to include readings in their service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at their respective house of worship. Click here to register online to participate.

NJCounts 2019 Set for January 23

All 21 New Jersey Communities Participate in NJCounts Count of the Homeless

On Wednesday, January 23. 2019, networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness will conduct the NJCounts 2019 across New Jersey’s twenty-one counties.

Volunteers will ask homeless shelter residents and those in un-sheltered locations where they spent the night of January 23, 2019.

Monarch Housing Associates is coordinating NJCounts 2019. NJCounts is the annual statewide Point-in-Time count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in the New Jersey.

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandates that local communities conduct a sheltered count each year. HUD will use the 2018 count for tracking efforts to end youth homelessness.

New Jersey and local Continuums of Care (CoC) employ the annual count to obtain consistent data about the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to better understand the causes of homelessness and their service and housing needs.

NJCounts 2019 is designed to understand the nature of New Jersey’s homeless population so that limited housing and services resources can most appropriately meet its needs.

NJ Counts 2018 Overall Results

9,303 homeless men, women and children were counted across the state of New Jersey on the night of the Point-in-Time Count.

This was an overall increase of 771 persons, or 9%, compared to the 2017 count.

1,288 persons, in 1,211 households, were identified as chronically homeless, an increase of 196 persons, or 17.9%, compared to the 2017 count.

1,623 persons were counted as un-sheltered; an increase of 15% from the 1,415 persons counted in 2017.

Racial disparities are evident in the population experiencing homelessness with persons identifying as Black or African American making up 48.1% of the total population counted as homeless and 24% of the state population living in poverty, and only 12.7% of the general state population.

Participate in Homeless Persons Memorial Day Vigil – attend the vigil and help remember our neighbors who died due to lack of housing and supportive services;

Engage – talk to your family, your neighbors, your co-workers and elected officials about homelessness in Union County and how we need to work together to end homelessness. To achieve that goal, we need to change the conversation and focus on the needs of our neighbors; and

Form a homeless ministry - Begin discussions that focus on what more your congregation can do to end homelessness.